Teaching a Pastor and a Catholic. :)

I had a really fun and effective week!  I was really focused on not wasting any of the Lords time and we were able to teach 10 more lessons than I have ever taught in this area!  I received a new companion and I knew the best way to show him that I am here to work... was to work hard these first 2 weeks and then it will be a habit for the rest of the transfer! 

Mission is so interesting.  Never have I wanted to be so close to the spirit.  All day long I am doing the best I can to create situations were others can feel God's love.  African's love to blast their music and it can be heard from miles away so it can be difficult sometimes... but when you witness the light appearing in someone's eyes who has been in darkness their whole life it is the coolest experience!

This week we taught these 2 twenty year old friends.  One is named A**** and has been taking very well to the lessons but after we teach him... his friend... the other one... I**** comes and tries to contradict what we say.  I**** is so smart and is very educated in the bible.  He is a pastor in another church (A****'s old church).  We have been teaching him about the priesthood and why it is necessary to do ordinances such as baptism.  He has been baptized in his church and has baptized many people.  We have been trying and trying to make it click in his brain.... well this week... I SAW that click!  The lesson started in a similar manner as lessons in the past of him coming to us with a bunch of scriptures that contradict what we believe... we were able to resolve those concerns.  I had  a feeling that we should teach him about how Christ set up his church while he was on earth.  He said that he knew that Christ was still alive and that for a person to be an apostle of Jesus Christ they have to actually have seen him and talk with him.  I just smiled so big I couldn't help it.  I just felt so strongly to teach about our current prophet and apostles.  I seriously saw light come into this guys eyes.  He was just filled with the spirit and he knew that everything we have been teaching him is true.  We showed him scriptures in the BofM that answered perfectly his questions.  He just kept saying.... I will do anything for the truth... I cannot wait to meet with him this week and explain more to him and help him to become a very strong member in this church! woooo!!

One of our other Investigators is M*** A***.  She is my favorite.  She is a 40 year old Elementary school teacher.  She was also once very Catholic (before she met me hehe).  She has been teetering on the fence lately trying to decide if she should be baptized again.  We took her to a baptism in our District center.  She said I want to witness this whole thing before I dive in and do it.  Well... she must have felt the spirit because as we were leaving the baptism some other people were asking her if she was a member and she said.. no But Elder Crandall is going to baptize me on the 19th and then I will be!! I over heard that and couldn't help but smile.  We met with her this Sunday and her desire to be baptized is so strong now!  She has run into a few problems with commandments that we just taught her... But I know that the Lord will provide a way for her.  Her desire is there... she just needs to follow it now.  The investigators who really become converted are the ones who have to overcome something so they can be baptized.  Oh I just love helping people change:)

We played Futbol today against what I am pretty sure is an organized team haha!  Missionaries vs. Sierra Leone.  We got wrecked!  Some of the missionaries were sooo angry and it made me really sad to see them forget their purpose so quickly just because of a game.  If you knew me before mission... you would know that I am a competitive kid and I like to have fun while I win... well... mission must be changing me or something because I have never been so happy while getting my trash kicked at soccer! haha! That was not the case for my companion though... lets hope this game doesn't effective the rest of his week ha!

This world is a nasty place.  It is so sad to see how some live their lives.  I feel perfectly comfortable with what I do as a missionary and I love how free I am from guilt and shame because of the Atonement.  People in this world do the best they can to try and hide or push away their guilt.... but it will never go away without the help of Jesus Christ.  I pray that if you ever feel guilt or shame... pray and ask Heavenly Father what to do.  He will put you on the perfect path.  We all need repentance and I know it is the key to living a righteous and happy life.  REPENT DAILY!!!!  There is nothing better than kneeling down at night and going over my day with Heavenly Father.  He helps me to recognize things I can improve and things that I am doing well.  With his help and guidance we can become perfect! Me personally... it will not happen in this life or even in the next millions years in the next life.  But through Christ I will be made perfect if I can but endure through this journey and keep fast to the covenants I have made!

I love life! I love Mission! I love My Father in Heaven!!!!

Love Elder Crandall the Vandal!

Lots of fun pictures this week. Cody loves serving in Bo.

 Baptism of A... P.... 

 

 This young boy playing soccer has only one leg. 
Cody says he is sooooo good and wishes he could take a video of him. 
So happy to see him playing hard and not letting this stop him.

 

 Book of Mormon boy. So cute!

 

 This guy reminds Cody of one of his favorite Cousins, Trevor Boulter!!!

 

Cody and the kids.  I love the way some of them are just staring at him. 

Looks as though they have never seen a white person before.



Transfers This Week

I have just been so happy and loving life for the past week.  I am really really trying to do everything in the Lord's way... and after doing so.. showing gratitude in whatever way I can.  My prayers have been based on 2 things for the past month or so.  1. I want to be happy in whatever circumstance I am in.  2.  I want to improve my area and be able to see the fruits of my labors.  Well I can see God answering my prayers everyday.  Sometimes we forget what we prayed about so when it comes a reality... we don't even realize it and we don't show our appreciation to our Father in Heaven.  Prayer is a commandment and a blessing.  Why not do something that will benefit you?? haha... no clue.. makes me wonder why it has taken me so long to understand the importance of prayer.

Elder A.... will be leaving me this transfer and be going to Thunder hill (Freetown).  I am so grateful for all the experiences we have shared together.  We have had some of the roughest times together but we have also had some of the most unforgettable times.  He has taught me so many lessons that I needed to learn.  My goal was to help make him happy doing the work.  These past 3 weeks have just been a blast and I cannot even explain the change I have seen in both of us.  He will go on to do many wonderful things in this mission. I will miss being with him 24/7 but I know I will see him again!  One thing I have truly noticed while I have been here is that when you feel the spirit with someone... there is an unseen bond that is formed.  If you want to strengthen your relationship with someone... find a way to have a spiritual experience with them.  For example, My aunt and Uncle just went and did a church history trip... no better way to strengthen a relationship than spending time doing something that invites the spirit.  

I will be receiving another Zimbabwean.  I have served around him a lot.  His name is Elder Mukwira.  He is a big strong guy with a sweet smile.  I am so stoked to have another African companion!  I know I am put with certain companions for certain reasons so I can't wait to learn and grow from him.  

This week I was lucky enough to go on an exchange with the A.P.'s.  I was a little nervous but I love both of them so I knew it would be an awesome experience.  I went with Elder H..... who will be flying home tomorrow.  He is from Spanish fork and is the perfect example of who I want to be like when I am finished with my mission.  I was trying to squeeze out every possible tip, hint, or idea possible from him.  He has 2 years of experience that he is going to take home with him so I wanted as much help from him as I could get!  He is so close to the spirit and does everything the way the preach my gospel teaches us to.  There were so many awesome experiences that I had with him but no time to write them.  The coolest thing that happened though.... we got bounced from a lesson and decided to go under a tree and pray for inspiration to know where to go to find someone to teach.  We both felt prompted to go a certain direction and we ended up talking to 2 guys at the same time who showed sincere interest.  We taught them about temples and how you can be sealed to your family for time and all eternity.  When we finally left they were almost begging us to come back so they could know more about uniting their family for eternity.  So Awesome.  One of the other things that I noticed he is really good at...  He can make anyone smile.  I realized how simple it is to give someone a compliment and make their day.  I want you all to try something this week.  Give someone an sincere unexpected compliment and look at how their countenance will change.  I have been doing it all week and all the sudden it seems like I am only around very happy people!  I am so grateful for the saviors example of charity.  When you learn to love people you are around... you learn to love life!  Don't worry... be happy!

The other A.P. is Elder H....  He is my favorite.  He will be going home at the end of this next transfer.  I found out that he lived in the exact same room as me up at Utah State just 2 years before me.  I have such a close bond with him as well.  I am so grateful for the people Heavenly Father has put me around!

There is no cooler lesson than eternal marriage and families.  I wish so badly that there was a temple in Sierra Leone.  I never ever realized the blessing of having a temple close by.  Something I like to think about.... Would heaven really be as awesome as it sounds if the people I love most in life weren't there to enjoy it with me??  I am so grateful for the covenants my parents have made in the temple and how blessed I am to be sealed to them.  I cannot wait to have my own family!!

Shout out to My papa bear for retiring this week!!  You've done good kid... you've done good.

also shout out to my sister Jenessa la pueps!  I have been thinking about you a lot and I hope you know I love you tons!  Hope you have a great week!

I love you all!

Elder cran man